Can urban Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) be change agent for breast cancer awareness in urban area: Experience from Ahmedabad India

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Globally, breast cancer is one of the major public health problem. In Indian women, breast cancer is now the most common cancer, having recently overtaken cervical cancer in this respect. Breast Cancer though on the rise among Indian women, they still do not perceive themselves at risk. Poor awareness about the disease, its risk factors and the absence of population-based screening contribute to delayed diagnosis. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge and practice of breast cancer in general and breast self-examination (BSE) amongst urban accredited social health activist in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. METHODS: The study was conducted in three phases: pre-intervention phase, intervention phase, and post-intervention phase during 2018. A total of 104 ASHA participants were included and awareness about breast cancer and practices of breast self-examination was assessed through interviewing two different groups at two points of time: Control and Intervention group at the base line and end line. Interventional breast health education was administrated through lectures, charts and silicon breast model for the basic knowledge of the breast cancer. The data had been analyzed by using software Epi info. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in knowledge regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination among the intervention group from pre- to post-test. An overall increase in the awareness of breast cancer 33%, Method of doing BSE of 54% and 42% of BSE practice was observed in the study group after intervention. CONCLUSION: A significant changes were observed in the knowledge. However, the behavior change requires reinforced training in regular interval.